EU Meetings

Wednesday, 12 June 2024

Ceisteanna (50)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

50. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of formal and informal Council of the European Union meetings that have been held since 27 June 2020 under the remit of his Department; and the number of formal and informal meetings, respectively held virtually and the corresponding number held in person; if he or his predecessor attended each meeting, or a Minister of State or ambassador represented the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25665/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

During each European Union Presidency, both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union. There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the Council of the European Union.

In the period from 27 June 2020 to date, a total of twenty EU Defence ministerial meetings have taken place. Of these, ten were Foreign Affairs Council in Defence configuration (FAC Defence) meetings, eight were Informal Meetings of EU Ministers for Defence and two were Jumbo FAC Meetings which are ordinarily attended by both Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Ministers for Defence. From available records, only two of these meetings were held virtually, twelve EU Defence Ministerial meetings were attended either by myself or my predecessor, one was attended at Minister of State level and a further seven were attended at Ambassador level.